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(No Model.) 7

F. L. DARRAGH. ATTACHMENT T0 OIL TANKS FOR PREVENTING EXPLOSIONS ANDEXTINGUISHING FIRES.

No. 340,864; Patented Apr. 2'7, 1886.

ATTO R N EY,

my E S S E N H W N. PETERS. PholO-Lilhogmphor. W-uhinglon. D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANOISL. DARRAGH, .OF- PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HENRYDARRAOH, OF SAME PLACE.

ATTACHMENT T OIL-TANKS FOR PREVENTING EXPLOSIONS AND EXTINGUISHINGFIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,864, dated April27, 1886.

Application filed August 1, 1885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS L. DARRAOH,

a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county ofPhiladelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Attachments to Oil-Tanks for Preventing Explosions and AExtinguishing Fires, which improvement is fully set forth in thefollowing specification and accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1and 2 represent partial side elevations and partial vertical sections ofan attachment to an oil-tank embodying my invention.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspending parts in the twofigures.

My invention consists of an apparatus for or an attachment to a tank orvat containing petroleum or other oils from which inflammable vaporariscs,whereby in the event of fire, due to lightning or other .causes,the explosion of the tank or vat is prevented and the fire automaticallyextinguished.

Referring to the drawings, A represents an upright tubular structure orcolumn,which is secured at bottom to anoil tank or vat,B,in any suitablemanner, and having within it aseries of perforated diaphragms,(l,located one above the other, and properly attached to the column, to thenumber of which, however, I do not limit myself.

Projecting into the column A are perforated pipes or jets D, which areconnected with a pipe, E, the upper end whereof enters a closed chamber,F, at the top of the column A, said chamber having a central walledopening, it being noticed that the column A is open to the atmospherethrough the central opening of the chamber, where the vapors arisingfrom the tank or vat are permitted to escape.

\Vithin the chamber F are cups or vessels G, which, are provided withjournals H, the latter being mounted on the walls of the chamberF,whereby the vessels may be overturned, it being observed that thevessels and chamber F are adapted to contain chemicals,which whencombined are adapted for extinguishing fire.

Connected with the journals H, on the inner side of the chamber F, is acrank, J, which is 50 located above or within the column A, and

Serial No. 173,470. (No model.) I

weighted so as to overturn. The normal position of the crank and vesselsG is shown in Fig. 1.

On the inner wall of the chamber F is a pin or bracket, K, to which thecrank is primarily attached by a piece of fusible wire or solder, as atL.

Rising from the wall of the central opening of the chamber F is a shorttube, A, which forms a continuation of said wall, but in fact is acontinuation of the column A, it being evident that the column A may becontinuous through the chamber F and rise above the same.

At the top of the tube A is a shield, M, for covering the same, without,however, closing the column A. At the side of the column are openings N,which are covered by a shield, P,

'but not closed by the same, the shields serv ing to prevent rain, snow,&c., from entering the column. It will be seenthat should the vaporescaping from the tank or vat at the top of the column A and sideopenings thereof be ignited by lightning or other causes, the diaphragmsprevent the fire reaching the tank or 7 5 vat, thus avoiding explosionof the latter. The heat generated by the burning vapors melts the wireor solder L, and thus the crank is released, whence it rotates andcauses the overturning of the vessels G, the effect of which is theadmixture of the chemicals in said vessels and the chamber F, and theformation of a fire-extinguishing 1nediun1,which is directed by the pipeE, through the branches or pipes D, into the column A, thusextinguishing the fire.

R represents an indicator, consisting of a rod,which is passed throughthe shield M, and a ball, S, or other object or figure secured to thetop of the rod. The rod is rested on the 0 crank J when the latter is inposition shown in Fig. 1, so that as the crank rotates the rod loses itshold thereon and thus drops, whereby the object S, having dropped orfallen with it, announces that fire has occurred, and the ex- 9 5tinguisher requires replenishing with chemicals and the deviceresetting. The pipe E. after entering the chamber F, extends toward thebottom thereof, as shown by the dotted lines, Fig. 2, so that when thevessels G are I00 2 a4o,ase

overturned the fluid in said chamber F, then combined with the chemicalsin the vessels, is forced by the gas as generated in the chamber intosaid pipe E, and thus into the column A, the gas following the fluid;but, if desired, the gas alone may be employed as the extinguishingmedium, in which case the downward extension of the pipe E into thechamber F is not required. The height of fluid in the chamber F isindicated by cocks F, and said fluid may be withdrawn for cleaning orother purposes by means of a cock, F said cocks F F being suitablyconnected with the chamber F.

The diaphragms C may be made of wiregauze, perforated metal, or othersuitable material.

If desired, the column A may be of the form of a dome, instead of thetubular structure shown. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. An oil tank or vat provided with the column A, having a series ofdiaphragms, C, in combination with the pipe E, having jets D, and anautomatic fire-extinguishing apparatus having a vessel in communicationwith said pipe E, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. An oil-tank in combination with column A, having perforateddiaphragms D therein, weights, pivoted vessels G, closed chamber F, andpipe E, having jets D, the said pipe E leading from said vessel F intothe column A, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. An oil tank or vat provided with a column having openings at top, incombination with an automatically-operated fire-extinguisher having apivoted vessel in a closed chamber operated by a weighted crank, and a 0rod with a ball attached thereto, actuated by said crank, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

4, An oil tank or vat, in combination with the column A, having sideopening and provided with diaphragms 0, closed chamber F, having centralwalled opening, pivoted vessels G in said chamber F, crank J, carryingweight, and connected vessels G, fusible connection L, and pipe E,having jets D, the said pipe leading from said vessel F to said columnA, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. An oil tank or vat, in combination with the column A, having adiaphragm, the chamber F, having a central walled opening, the tube A,forming an extension of the column A, the shield M, vessels G, havingweighted crank J, fusible connection L, and rod R, having ball S, saidparts being operated substantially as described. 6. The chamber F,provided with cocks F and F and havinga central walled opening, incombination with vessels G, weighted crank J, fusible connection L, pipeE, leading from said vessel F and having jets D, and column A, havingdiaphragm, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. An oil-tank having the column A provided with a series of diaphragms,in combination withan automatic fire-eXtinguisher located at the top ofsaid column, substantially as described.

FRANCIS L. DARRACH. \Vitnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERsHEIM, V. F. KIRCHER.

